Atom Interferometry with the Sr Optical Clock Transition

Year: 2017

Authors: Hu L., Poli N., Salvi L., Tino GM.

Autors Affiliation: Univ Firenze, Dipartimento Fis & Astron, INFN, Sez Firenze, Via Sansone 1, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; Univ Firenze, INFN, Sez Firenze, LENS, Via Sansone 1, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; Abdus Salaam Int Ctr Theoret Phys, Trieste, Italy; CNR INO, Florence, Italy; CNR IFAC, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy.

Abstract: We report on the realization of a matter-wave interferometer based on single-photon interaction on the ultranarrow optical clock transition of strontium atoms. We experimentally demonstrate its operation as a gravimeter and as a gravity gradiometer. No reduction of interferometric contrast was observed for a total interferometer time up to similar to 10 ms, limited by geometric constraints of the apparatus. Single-photon interferometers represent a new class of high-precision sensors that could be used for the detection of gravitational waves in so far unexplored frequency ranges and to enlighten the boundary between quantum mechanics and general relativity.

Journal/Review: PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS

Volume: 119 (26)      Pages from: 263601-1  to: 263601-5

More Information: We thank J. Ye for a critical reading of the Letter and G. Rosi and R. P. Del Aguila for useful discussions. We acknowledge financial support from INFN and the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR) under the Progetto Premiale Interferometro Atomico and PRIN 2015. This project has received funding from the Initial Training Network (ITN) supported by the European Commission’s 7th Framework Programme under Grant Agreement No. 607493. L. Hu acknowledges support by Kayser Italia.
KeyWords: Lattice Clock; Spectroscopy; Frequency; Gravity; Path
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.119.263601

Citations: 100
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